How One Canadian Charity Used a Shipping Container into a Powerful Community Hub
When Mystery Furtado, CEO and founder of the nonprofit Type Diabeat It, visited Kellogg’s Place Market and saw a pop-up kitchen inside a shipping container, something clicked.
She had long admired container homes around the world, but now she saw firsthand how that same concept could support the urgent needs of her grassroots organization.
From the start, Type Diabeat It needed more than just an office. They needed an adaptable, sustainable and cost-effective space to call their own. “As a small nonprofit, traditional buildings or long-term rentals were out of reach,” explains Mystery. “Shipping containers are eco-friendly and customizable. They allowed us to create a space that reflects our identity and can grow with our organization. Traditional rentals come with limitations and higher costs, and building from scratch was not financially viable.”
The Power of Possibility: Why a Container Made Sense
Shipping containers aren’t commonly used for nonprofit workspaces in Canada, but a bit of global research revealed their immense potential.
Containers are modular, mobile, and scalable—a critical benefit for nonprofits working with limited resources. Type Diabeat It’s team was especially drawn to the sustainability of repurposing something that would otherwise sit unused.
Finding the right container provider was essential. After reaching out to about 10 companies, Type Diabeat It chose TargetBox. “They treated us with respect from day one,” says Mystery. “We had no construction background, but TargetBox made us feel informed and included. That meant a lot.”
They partnered with TargetBox and spoke to them about exactly what they needed in a space. “We came to them with an AI-generated mockup of our plan, and they made it happen. They understood our needs and respected our vision from day one,” said Mystery.
It was through this consultation phase that they realized TargetBox could add electrical, window, and sliding doors. “Eventually, this will become a U-shaped hub with a central deck,” says Mystery. “We’ll add two more containers, a teaching kitchen and a classroom space for the programs we run.”
From Concept to Community Space
Today, the container serves as Type Diabeat It’s administrative office. But it’s already much more than that. It’s a symbol of community, growth and ownership.
“We’ve always borrowed or rented spaces, but now we have a place that’s ours,” says Mystery. “That changes everything.”
In July, the hub will begin hosting food literacy programming for students in partnership with the London Police Service. Community interest is already growing. Even without stepping inside yet, local youth have been inspired just by seeing what’s taking shape.
More Than a Nonprofit: A Movement for Food Justice
Type Diabeat It is more than a diabetes-focused nonprofit. It’s a movement rooted in food literacy, cultural connection, and community empowerment. With a mission to serve African, Caribbean, Black, and low-income communities in London, Ontario, the team tackles health disparities through programming that blends traditional knowledge with clinical education.
They’ve launched successful initiatives like the Afro-Heritage Food Literacy Program, partnered with the YMCA for fitness-based diabetes prevention, and co-developed culturally relevant education materials with Diabetes Canada and the Heart & Stroke Foundation.
The container hub is helping this vital work grow, literally and figuratively.
Support the Vision of Type Diabeat It
Type Diabeat It is currently raising funds for two more containers and their community food box program, which serves over 500 families. They’re inviting supporters to register, donate, or share their 5K fundraiser at CanadaHelps.org. Take a second to contribute securely online.
As Mystery puts it: “This work is hard, it’s long-term and it matters. If you’re starting something community-focused, keep going, even if nobody’s watching. Impact grows over time.”
From all of us at TargetBox, we’re honoured to play a small part in this powerful journey!
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